The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1887-11-22
BARNUM'S BEASTS.
7HE BIC SH0WMANS CIRCUS BURNED
At WINTER QUARTERS,
TIepi,nDt- and Lions Running Loose
EreDIi-d Win Pain Scenes
IucidentsOr the Fire.
BURNING ELEPHANTs.

destroyed by fire last night The
alarm was sounded about $3.50 O'Clock,
and was quickly followed by gene
al alarm, and thousands OF people
we're drawn to the spot. In less than
thirty minutes the big building, which
Sss 600 by 200 feet, and two stories in
heighth. wss entirely consumed. The
first iutimation Of the fire was given
Nv the roaring of the lions and tigers,
which seemed TO realize their i'm
pending danger. Next the elephants
struggled in tncir chains, but in All
incredibly short time the flames
swept from one end Of the huge struc
ture to the other. There Nc,e six
watcbmen employed on 1lia promi
-cs, but they were helplcs, to
check the flames. One Of the men
was in he horse building when his
amp exp oded, igniting hay and
straw Five of the watchmen have re
ported, but one is missing, The upper
portion Of the building was filed
with Lay and all paraphenaha OF the
great show. Before the first alarm
ceased sounding the whole building
was enyeloped and no one dared to ap
prosch the building, being fearful of
the rahed animals. Three elephants
were burned up and thirty six broke
from their i8stcnings and dashed
through the sides of the burning
buldiug, Their roars and trumpet
inRs and sounds torment were ter
rifle. Six elephants and a large hip
popotamus rushed about the streets
prescntiug slckening appearance.
Their sides were burned and great
pieces OF flash foot square fell
oil. Thirty elephants and one
large lion made their escape and have
started OF across the country toward
Fairfield aud EastOn. Great alarm
has sclIed many residents of the
West end and they have taken refuge
within their houses with the windows
barred. William Newman, elephant
trainer, is out of town and the keep
ers were not able in the excitement
10 herd the frightened animals. In
iho horses room were all the ring
animals, trained stations, ponies, etc.
They were all burned. In the upper
rooms were the tents, pOles, seats,
harness, etc for the entire show and
these too were destroyed. In the cat
room were birds. monkeys, three
rhinocores, hycnas, tigers, lions and
ali the m"nageris, which tel prey to
the flames. SO rapidly did the fl .mes
run across the main building that
hremen made no attempt to save it but
turned there streams upon the chariot
buildings and car sheds, which they
h,t (, I.,
30 intense that this was accomplished
with tho greatest difficulty The
totai loss is estimated al 100000, upon
which there was but 100000 insur
Auce. Before the building went down
Barnum's agents were busy making
arrangements for obtaining IA new lot
Of attractions supply tae loss. Mr..
Brothwoll, Bsrnums bridgeport
agent, stated that the show building
would be rebuilt, bat not in Bridge
port. The great show would prob
Ably 20 to Jersey City, where better
railroad facilities could be had
NIGHT REPORT.
Watchman George y. Movers was
making his rounds aOouv 10 O'Clock,
when lie discovered flames in one cor
ner of the building whore the horses
are Kept. lie rushed around the
building to alarm the other employees,
when he was Knocked senseess by
some one with cub. llo lay on the
ground unconscious for twenty min
utes, aud when he revived, half of the
building was in ilsmos. He awakened
the slcepers in the building and some
rushed to the alarm box halt mile
away and pulled it, neglecting to
sound the alarm from the box located
at tie entrance to the grounds. This
caused delay of half Nh hour i'll the
arrival of the department. When it did
come it could do nothing beyond SAY
ing dj,cent buildings from being de
strOyed. In the meantime twenty
eight elephants were turned loose
The white elephants, sampson and
Alice were destroyed The other ele
phauts rushed about tho city and ono
fell on man, breaking three of his
ribs and one leg. An old lion, which
WAS often seen on top ofrhe chariot in
the street PROFESSIONS, was hauled oul
OF the flames 10y his keeper, William
BulkeIy. A. soon as he was out of
the building tt crowd attempted to
kill him by beating his head with
clubs aud triug shots into him from
reyolvers. He was secured and placed
in pen, but broke out and s. bling a
ZEN foot fence took refuge in
barn whore he killed
SOW. lie WAS shot while making
breakfast OIL the fresh meat. Eight
men were sleeping in the building
barely escaping with their lives aud